The Skeleton Crew; Or, Wildfire Ned — page 73: what you’re looking at

Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.

THE SKELETON CREW; OR, WILDFIRE NED. a cna =_—_ oo + 67 2 — and delighted always in company with the good- looking Charley, Mistress Haylark began to assume airs of great matronly digoity, and, if the truth must be told, confessed that shie began to feel older and older every day, aud that “ her sole thought was Concerning the tuture happiness of her darling beantiful daughter.” Mesdames Haylark and Worthington became al- most inseparable and extremely confiiential, and on one occasion, when Mistress Haylark complained of a pain in her stomach and would have gone upstsirs for “a thimbleful” of ginger wine, Dame Worthing- ton vehemently protested, and forthwith introduced her old family specific from “ the top shelf, behind the pickles,” forty drops of which, slightly diluted with water, effectually relieved all pain, and threw them both into such high spirits, that they con- tinued discussing family and household affairs and secrets, until long after the church clocks had chimed the hour of midnight. But while Charley is recovering, under the com- bined effects of love, philosophy, and kind treat- ment, the Directors of the India House have been assiduous in their endeavours to trace out the true depositor of the packet of counterfeit bank notes. They went to work very quietly and coolly, but despite their own, and the hawk-eyed exertions of clever detectives—Captain Jack among the rest— they were wholly unable to tasten solid suspicion upon any one of their employeés. An anonymous note, evidently written in a coun- terfeit hand, and signed “Nh,” startled them. Charley was the person pointed at by the un- known correspondent ; but Sir Richard Warbeck and others who were consulted would not believe the insinuation, and the matter seemed to drop indefiaitely. Charley, being fully recovered in body, returned to the India House as usual, and was received with tokens of much respect by all the directors, He attempted to appear gay; but all his en- deavours were vain. He was not the same person he hal been, and couli! not look any oue fairly ia the lace without evident effort. There wes a worm at his heart gnawing deeply, daily and hourly. From being a gay, light-hearted youth, of fresh colour and dashing manner, as he hid always been before he knew Phillip Redyill, he now appeared like.a person of age, on whose slioulders a heavy weight was pressing. Some thought ic might arise from an unfortunate disappointment in love affairs ; but these hints he parried with a faint smile, and attempted to joke in his old manner. One morning a young, bright-faced cierk was called into the Directors’ Council Room, and re- turned therefrom looking very pale, and with large tears standing in his eyes. “ Good day, Charley,” said he to Wsrbeck, with much emotion. “I’m going; they don’s want me any longer. I’ve done nothing wrong, you know ; they lay no charge against me, yet I feel certain that they have formed wrong suspicions against me, on account of the unfortunate packet of coun- terfeit notes that was substituted for good ones in the safé'a month or two ago. Good day, my boy ; . this will break my poor old mother’s heart. She las fo one to depend upon but me. Iam lost, ruined, disgraced !” | The youth leaned upon the counter, shading his face, and tears flowed from him fast and hot, His breast heaved convulsively, and he would have fallen from weakness but that Charles placed him in a chair, aod gazzd upon his guileless face long and intently. Charley’s features wore a ghastly smile. His lips became bloodless and blue, and quivered with emotion as he attempted to spealk. He could not speak, however, for his voice faltered, and the words stuck in his throat. Loosening his cravai to avoid a sense of strangu- lation, to which of late he had become sometimes subject, he seized the youth by the arm with an iron grip, and striding towards the Directors’ Council Room, “Come with me,’ he exclaimed, in a hoarse, hollow-toned voice, “¢ome with me! You shall not suffer for the deeds of others! Gentlemen,” he began when he had shut the door and stood before the Board of Directors, “gentlemen, I wish to say a few words before this young man leaves the India House. I wish to inform you——” He caught the eye of old Sir Richard Warbeck gazing intently at him, and his courage failed him. Summoning all his energy, with a great effort he approached to lean upon the council-table, and, casting his eyes upon the ground, continued, amida solemn silence, “TI wish toinform you that Z alone am answerable for the charge brought agaiust, or supposed to exist, against this young man. J lost the money, and re- placed the amount with a packet of false notes— no one else. I acknowledge it was my intention to have confessed it all on the following day. I have never had or spent a single penny of the amount, but lost it all by some unaccountable means the same evening on which I neglected to retura to the India House. Prosecute me, and I will suffer cheerfully ; anything is better than the hellish remorse which I have already suffered. But do not—do not, I beg of you, harbour suspicions against this sinless youth, on whose labour and reputation a poor widowed mother depends for bread !” Charley Waroeck sank into a chair, and wept like a child. The Board of Direetors were astonished at such an unexpected disclosure from one of their favourite and much-trusted clerks, and sat for many minutes iii Mute surprise and profouad reflection. CHAPTER XXVI, THE PHANTOM LEGS—PHILLIP REDGILL CON- TINUES HIS CAREER OF VILLANY—HIS FRIEND CAPTAIN JACK—YOUNG REDGILL’S MOTIVES FOR MARRYING—THE SUDDEN DEATH OF HIS FATHER —WHO CAUSED IT?— CHARLEY WARBECK IN PRISON—HE IS VISITED BY HIS FALSE FRIEND PHILLIP. Tue sudden disclosure so mucl appalled Sir Richard Warveck that he hung his head, and was unconscious when’ Charles was led ~—s by two burly, rough- looking men. His first impulee was to sti to Dame W orthing- Ghoo SoCO a inn